Attachment for torpedo-tubes.



J's KIMBRELL- Patented May 17, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

ATTACHMT FOR TORPEDO TUBES.

APPLICATION FILED DEO. 1, 1909.

J. KI'MTRELL. ATTACHMENT PoRToRPBDo TUBES. APPLICATION FILED DB0.1I 1909.v

Patented May 17, 1910.

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JULIUS KIMBRELL, 0F NEEDLES, CALIFORNIA.

y.ATT ACI-IID/[IEIN'I FOR TORPEDO-TUBES.

Application filed December l, 1909.

To ali whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, J UIJIUs KIMBRBLL, a citizen of the United States` residing at Needles, inthe county of San Bernardino and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Attachments for 'l`orpedo'l`ubes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to attachments for torpedo tubes of submarine boats.

lt has been demonstrated that whena submarine boat has sunk and for any reason becomes disabled and unable to rise to the surface, the crew of such boat may escape through the torpedo tube, with the exception of the last man who, in the absence of some one to operate the mechanism `controlling the doors of the torpedo tube must remain behind. A

rlhe present invention hasv for its object to provide means whereby the door actuating mechanism may be automatically operated when previously set and adjusted by the last man of the c rew, who may thus enter the tube and find his way to safety therethrough.

Further objects of the invention are to simplify and improve the construction and operation of devices of the general characler outlined above.

lVith these and other ends in view which will readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the improved construction and novel arrangement and combination of parts which will be hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

vIn the accompanying drawings has been illustrated a. simple. and preferred form of the invention, it heilig, however, understood that no limitation is necessarily made to the precise. structural details therein exhibited, but that changes, alterations and moditications within the scope of the invention may be resorted to when desired.

In the drawingsfmFigure 1 is a .sectional elevation,showirig the interior upper portion ofa submarine boat equipped with the invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional detail View of a timing device which forms a part of the invention. Fig. 3 is a rear end view of the torpedo tube and related parts. Fig. 4 is 'a sectional elevation of the rear end of 'the torpedo tube, showing'the door of the same in open position. Fig. is a sectional view,

showing the door shut. Fig. 6 is a detail view Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 17, 1919.

serial No. 530.752.

in elevation' of the means for actuating the outer door of the torpedo tube and the motor for operating said door-actuating mechanism.

Corresponding parts in the several figures are denoted by like characters of reference. The invention has been shown applied to a submarine boat, a portion of the hold of which appears'at A, the same being equipped with a torpedo tube B of ordinary construction, and the saine being also equipped adjacent to its rear end with the-inner door O and adjacent to its outer end with the door D, thelatter being formed with a recess l to accommodate the nose of the torpedo.

The inner door C is equipped with the customary locking dial 2 having iange's 3 adapted to engage between flanges et formed interiorly upon the torpedo tube adjacent to the enlarged rear end of the latter. locking dial is equipped with the handle 5, whereby it is usual y manipulated,` and in addition to said handle, the locking dial is under the present invention provided With a segment rack 6 and-meshing with a pinion 7 which is supported for rotation upon the lid or cover C. The hub 8 ot the pinion 7 has anon-circular recess 9 adapted to en gage the end ot' the driven shaft l0 of an electric motor M2 which is suitably sup ported upon or adjacent to the torpedo tube. The shaft or pintle 1l, which supports the door C, is provided with a beveled pinion 12 meshing with a corresponding beveled pinion 13 carried upon the driven shaft 14 of an electric motor M' which is suitably supported upon or adjacent to the torpedo 2.

The outer door D of the torpedo is adapted to be actuated by a piston F reciprocating in a cylinder G, the stem or rod H of said piston being connected wit-h the door D at a suitable distance from the hinge H supporting said door by means of a link I. The piston stem or rod H is guided through a tube J and `is provided with a piston K operating in said tube for the purpose of excluding the sea water. be actuated by any suitable fluid, such as compressed air. which may be admitted to either end of the cylinder through suitable passages L, the admission, as Well as the ex- Ahaust being controlled by means of a valve V operating in a valve chest O; the said valve being provided with a stem P which is connecte-d by a link Q with a hand lever by means of which the valve may be man- The ually operated under ordinary circumstances. The inlet and exhaust tubes Will be best seen at S and T in Fig. 6 of the drawings. A dash pot U has been shown in connection with the hand lever, for the purpose of suitably retarding the motion.

The valve stem P is under the present invention provided with teeth forming a rack which meshes with a pinion 16 supported upon the driven shaft 17 of an electric motor M3 which is suitably supported adjacent to the cylinder G.

A suitably supported dial 18 is provided with suitably spaced contacts 19, 20 and 21.

- A shaft 22, which 1s supported for rotation centrally of the dial, carries a hand or pointer 23 which during the rotation of the shaft is adapted to successively engage the several contacts. The shaft 22 carries a spur wheel 24 Which is connected through a train ofgealS 25 with a winding post 26 actuated by a Spring 27. The shaft 22 also carries a dlSk L28 having a peripheral. notch 29 adaptedito be engaged by a spring-actuated stop member 30.

The contact 19 is electrically connected with the motor M by means of a conducting wire 31; the contacts 20, and 21 are in like manner electrically connected with the motors M2 and M3, respectively, and each of the several vmotors is electrically connected with the shaft 22 carrying the hand,23. A switch 40 is provided whereby .the several motors and the dial may be placed in a circuit including a battery 41.

The stop m'ember 30 is so arranged with reference to the hand or indicator that when the stop member engages the notch 29 the hand or pointer will be approximately in the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1, and the speed of said hand under the impulse of the actuating spring 27 is so regulated that the hand will occupy several minutes in traveling from the dotted position to the contact 19, giving ample time for an operator to enter the torpedo tube. A handle l12,adapted to be grasped by a person within the torpedo tube is hingedly connected with the outer door D Within the recess 1 in a position where it may be readily grasped by a person Within the tube but without interfering with the use of torpedoes for which the tube is primarily intended.

In the operation of this device, the members of the crew who desire to escape through the torpedo tube are preferably provided with a suitable suit for the occa-y sion, including a life preserver '43 land a pointed head-protecting helmet 44 to which a signal 45 may be attached. As each man enters the torpedo tube, the door C is closed behind him, and the door D is then actuated lo swing outward, thus causing the'man to be dragged out of the tube by the handle 'l2 which he grasps firmly for this purpose.

l l i g l i i l actuated the stop member 30 to. release the f hand-carrying shaft As soon the hand reaches the contact 19 the motor M becomes i active and operates to swing the door C l shut. llhe hand 23 presently travels from l the contact 19 to the contact 20, thus cutting out the motor M and energizing the motor M2, whereby the dial 5 of the door will be partially rotated to place the locking anges '3 inengagingposition, the rack segment 6 being or' an extent only suliicient to accomplish this result so that if the pinion 7 car- I ried by the driven shaft of the motor M2 i should continue to rotate the dial will not l be carried past the door locking position. The contact 21 is sufficiently spaced from the contact 2() to 'enable the man within the torpedo tube to work his way up to the door D and to grasp the handle 42 before l the motor M becomes active to aetuate the valve controlling the admission of compressed air within the cylinder G; the piston E of which thus actuated t0 throw the door D op'en to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, thus enabling the last man i' to escape.

Having thus described the invention, what 1. A torpedo tube, a rear door for the saine having a locking dial provided with a rack segment', motor driven means for closing the door, motor driven means for locking the door including a pinion engaging the rack segment and a driven shaft with which said pinion is detachably connected, and means for timing the starting of the motors whereby the closing and the locking are eli'ected. i

2. A torpedo tube, a hing'edly supported outer door for the same, a handle connected with said door, motor driven means for opening and closing the door, means for' starting the door actuating motor including an auxiliary motor, and means for timing th(` starting ofthe auxiliary motor.

3. A torpedo tube, inner and outer doors for the same, motor driven means for closing the inner door, motor driven means for locking the inner door, a motor controlling the opening and closing of the outer door, means including an auxiliary motor for l is claimed as new, ish-- means for timing the starting ofthe motors, whereby the closing and locking of the instarting the door operating motor, and y enserio ner door are elecied and of the auxiliary motor controlling the starting of the motor governing the openingand closing of the outer door.

4. The combination with a torpedo tube, of means forming doors or closures at the inner und outer ends of said tube, mechanical means for successively closing and locking the inner door and for opening the outer door, and means for timing said operations.

5. A torpedo tube, doors or closures for the inner and outer ends of said tube ineens including independent motors Jfor closing and locking the inner door, means `including :i motor und an auxiliary starting niofor ml openingl the outer door, and means including an electrical circuit, L dial having contacts7 und a spring-actuated hand movable over ille dial for successively starting the 20 motor governing the closing of the inner door, the motor governing the locking of (he inner door und the motor governing the starting of the motor for opening the outer door, (lie smiling of said motors being 25 timed et predetermined iulervnls. ln teslnnony whereof l alli): my signature in presence of lwo witnesses.

. lULlUS KMBRELL. lViluesses:

'l J. lvliizrn, 

